leafless

UK: /ˈliːfləs/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

leaf /lif/   n., pl. leaves /livz/   v. 

n. 

1. Botany [countable] one of the usually green, flat parts at the end of a stem on a plant.
2. Library Science [countable] a sheet of paper or other writing material, one side of each sheet making up a page.
3. Metallurgy a thin sheet of metal:
   [uncountable] decorated with silver leaf.
4. Building a flat part of a table that slides, is hinged, or detaches from the main piece:
   [countable] the leaves of a dining room table.

v. 

5. leaf through, [~ + object] to turn pages of:
   leafing through a book.

Idioms

6. Idioms take a leaf out of or from someone's book, to use someone as an example:
   The company took a leaf out of Japan's book on how to mass-produce automobiles efficiently.
7. Idioms turn over a new leaf, to begin new;
   make a fresh start.

leaf•less, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

leaf  (lēf ), n., pl. leaves  (lēvz), v. 
n. 

1. Botany one of the expanded, usually green organs borne by the stem of a plant.
2. Botany any similar or corresponding lateral outgrowth of a stem.
3. Botany a petal:
   a rose leaf.
4. Botany leaves collectively;
   foliage.
5. Library Science [Bibliog.] a unit generally comprising two printed, blank, or illustrated pages of a book, one on each side.
6. Metallurgy a thin sheet of metal:
   silver leaf.
7. a lamina or layer.
8. Building a sliding, hinged, or detachable flat part, as of a door or tabletop.
9. Civil Engineering a section of a drawbridge.
10. Mechanical Engineering a single strip of metal in a leaf spring.
11. Mechanical Engineering a tooth of a small gear wheel, as of a pinion.
12. See leaf fat. 
13. Textiles shaft (def. 14).
14. Botany, Idioms in leaf, covered with foliage;
    having leaves:
    the pale green tint of the woods newly in leaf.
15. Idioms take a leaf out of or from someone's book, to follow someone's example;
    imitate:
    Some countries that took a leaf out of American industry's book are now doing very well for themselves.
16. Idioms turn over a new leaf, to begin anew;
    make a fresh start:
    Every New Year's we make resolutions to turn over a new leaf.

v.i. 
17. Botany to put forth leaves.
18. to turn pages, esp. quickly (usually fol. by through):
    to leaf through a book.

v.t. 
19. to thumb or turn, as the pages of a book or magazine, in a casual or cursory inspection of the contents.
• bef. 900; Middle English leef, lef, Old English lēaf; cognate with Dutch loof, German Laub, Old Norse lauf, Gothic laufs
leaf′less, adj. 
leaf′like′, adj. 

Leaf  (lēf ), n. 

Mun•ro  (mun rō′), 1905–76, U.S. author and illustrator of books for children.